SOMERSWORTH — Idlehurst Elementary School students began the first day of their schoolwide fitness program called Fit on the Fly on Wednesday.

The Fit on the Fly program, developed by certified personal trainer Tami Provost, helps kids develop healthy lifestyles through the implementation of the fantastic five habits: embracing breakfast, welcoming water, giving sugar the "shake," sleeping more and moving more.

The program, which is currently sponsored by First Lady Michelle Obama, is gaining momentum and presence in many schools across the county. According to the Idlehurst School Counselor Meredith Jacques, the program is meant to teach kids how to be healthy and have fun at the same time.

During two morning assemblies on Wednesday, Provost introduced the program to Idlehurst's students and gave them tips on how to follow the plan.

For embracing breakfast, Provost suggested the students take advantage of breakfast served at school or consider packing their breakfasts the night before if they don't have time in the mornings to sit down and eat.

In terms of drinking water, Provost said whenever she passes by a water fountain, she makes herself drink from it as a reminder to stay hydrated. She said she also carries a water bottle with her and refills it when she can. Provost told the students that each of their bodies were made up of 75 percent water, so it was important to continuously drink throughout the day.

When it came to sugar, Provost said she wasn't going to tell the students not to eat sugar because eating sugar was fine to do. However, Provost said she had a secret for the students on how to cut down on the sugar they do eat. Every student present in the gym leaned forward, with one hand on their ears, as Provost advised them not to eat or drink sugar when they're hungry. According to Provost, when the students are hungry, 99 percent of their bodies don't want sugar; it's only their taste buds that want the sugar. Plus, said Provost, by drinking sugary drinks like juice and soda, the students take away time they could be drinking water.

Provost said she loves to sleep, that's why she likes her fourth recommendation to the students the best: sleep more. Provos suggested the students make their bedroom an "electronic-free" zone and not allow any electronics in their bedroom while they're sleeping. Provost said before her two daughters go to sleep at night, she collects their laptops, kindles and cell phones from their bedrooms so the bright lights don't interfere with their slumber.

Finally, Provost informed the students on how they could move more. Provost said she always keeps her sneakers in her car, just in case she's somewhere and has time to run around a little bit. Provost said she wasn't going to give the students a minimum amount of time they needed to move around or exercise for. She said sometimes those numbers discourage people from exercising at all because they think if they can't do the full 30 or 60 minutes, than what's the point of exercising at all.

Provost said moving more could be as simple as doing jumping jacks during commercial breaks of their favorite TV show or rolling around on the floor instead of watching their favorite television show. As long as they're moving their bodies more each and every day.

According to Principal Mike Quigley, there won't be a formal follow-up with the students in the up coming weeks to ensure they're following the plan, but the school will be giving the students options to help them fulfill some of the steps, such as offering lunch and breakfast with lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. Also, according to Quigley, teachers will be holding morning meetings with each of their students to follow-up on the five steps to the plan they learned in the assembly.

Last year, Hilltop Elementary School and Maplewood Elementary School, took part in the 5-2-1-0 program, a Healthy New Hampshire initiative that stressed the consumption of five fruits and vegetables per day, limiting screen time in front of the television or computer to two hours or less, instituting at least one hour of moderate to vigorous activity per day and consuming zero soda or fruit drinks.